Folding window shade



Nov. 26. 1940. D. J. SPRAD LING FOLDING WINDOW. SHADE Filed March 15,1940 7 e a a 1 w e K TREQQ a LI Q Invenidr 0a v/o @0480): yore/figAttorney 26, 1940. J DLIN 2,223,010

FQLDING wmnow SHADE Filed March 15, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AttorneyInventor Patented Nov. 26, 1940 ul urlaib STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,223,010I I FOLDING wmnow sna s David Jackson Spradling, St. Louis, Mo.[Application March 15, 1940, set-151 No. 224,195

' 4 Claims. (01. 156-17) This invention relates to a folding windowshade of Venetian type, the general object of the invention being to soconstruct and arrange the parts of the shade that ropes, pulleys andtape are eliminated and the shade is contracted or expanded bymanipulation of the bottom bar and the slats may be easily removed forcleaning purposes without dismantling the entire shade.

Another object of the invention is to so form and arrange the partsthatwhen the shade is in raised position the slats are spaced the samedistance apart, thus eliminating the unsightly bundle of slats acrossthe window as in the .Venetian shade now in use.

This invention also consists in certain other featuresoi' constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In' describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which-. V e

Figure 1 is a front view of a window showing the improved shade in usetherein.

FigureZisanendviewoftheshadearrangment. 1

Figure2 3isasection on the linet-lcfFlgure Figure 4 is a view with someof the parts separated oi an assembly for supporting one end of a slat.

Figure 5 is an end view of a slat.

Figure 6 is a view of a supporting clip for ,the bottom bar.

Figure]? is a view of one end metal strips assembly.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view with the parts separated of thesupporting means for the bottom bar.

Figure 9 is a view of the supporting clip and its links for the top bar.

In these views the numeral l indicates the top or tilting bar of thedevice and the numeral 2 indicates a pair of brackets for supportingthis bar from a window frame, as shown in Figure 1. Each bracket isformed with a top portion 3 for connecting with the top part of thewindow frame and. with a side part which contacts the inner face of aside member of the frame. This latter part of each bracket is connectedto an end of the bar I by a screw 4 which passes into-thecenteroftheendofthebarsothatthebaris portion of the supported forrocking movement by these screws. Also each depending part of thebrackets is formed with an annular row ofdepressions I which opens outon the bar side of the bracket and each end of the bar is formed withrecesses 5 for receiving the spring detents. for engaging a pair of thenecesses, these detents engaging the recesses holding the bar I inadjusted position to which it has been tilted or in a horizontalposition. Clips 1 are attached to the bar i, each 10 clip passing overthe upper face of the bar with its ends curving downwardly over theedges of the bar and each end of the clip forms a hinge I for a threadedstud see Figure 9. Each stud passes through holes in the upper ends of apair 15 of links Ill with a nut H threaded on the stud for holding thelinks to the stud. Of course, the links can turn on, the stud and thestud with the links can be rocked by the hinge connection with the clipI. The lower end of one link of '20 each pair is pivotally connected toan end of a metal strip II, as shown at II and the lower end of theother link of the pair is pivotally connected as shown at M with an endof a second metal strip I, see Figure 7. Each pivotal 2:! connection Itand I4 is also a hinged one as shown at ii, the hinge being similar tothat shown in Figure 9.

As will be seen from Figures 1 and 7 the downwardly and outwardlyextending links of oneao clip I are connected with one end of the upperstrip l2 while the outwardly and downwardly extending links of the otherclip I is connected to an end of the lower strip .IS, the inwardlyextending links of the first clip 'I being connected. 5 to the end ofthe lower strip l5 and the inwardly extending links of the other clip 'Ibeing connected to the end of the st'ri'p if.

Each slat I1 is formed with notches II in its side edges adjacent theends thereof and each 40 slat rests on an elongated flat bar It whichhas tongues it struck therefrom to engage the notches l8, there beingone of these bars i8 connected to each end of the slat l1 and thetongues engaging the notches detachably hold the slats 45 to the barsIt. The head of a threaded stud II is hinged to each end of each bar itas shown at 22 and each stud passes through a washer 23, the centralportion of a pair of long links 26 and the eye of a spring 25 which hasits ends 50 engaging holes 20 in the links 21, a nut 21 holding theparts together. The springs 25 should be of a strength tocounter-balance the weight of the parts of the shadewhen the parts areassembled. Theupperendsofthetoplinksflare 56 connected with the pivotalpoints It and I4 or the links 2 it while the lower ends of these links24 are connected to similar links 24 or the slats IT with the lower endsoi the links 24 or the lowermost slat connected to the links "which areconnected to the bottom bar 29 which has the clips 30 connectedtherewith, these clips 3!, as shown in Figures 6 and 8 having their endsturned upwardly to fit over the edges or the bar 2! and they have thethreaded studs 2| hinged thereto as shown at 32 with these studs passingthrough the concave-convex heads II at the lower ends of the links 2|with a small spring 34 on the outer end of each stud 3| and a nut 35threaded to the stud for holding the spring under tension and the heads01' the links 24 on the stud. These heads are roughened as shown at 36to prevent too free movement oi. the links.

As will be seen by tilting the bar I in a horizontal position to oneside or the other the slats will be adjusted to a similar position andthe parts will be held in this position by the detents 6 engagingrecesses or depressions 5 in the brackets 2. By pushing the bar 29upwardly the slats will be moved toward each other to open the blind andthe springs 34 and heads 33 of the links 28 will frictionally hold theparts in adjusted position. 01 course, when the bar 29 is pulleddownwardly the slats will move apart. The strips i 2 and I5 willcoordinate and equalize the movement of the parts.

As before stated it will be seen that all tape, cord and cables orpulleys are eliminated and the slats can be easily removed for cleaningor repair purposes and replacement.

When the shade is raised or lowered the two sets of links Ill whichconnect plates I2 with the clips I and extend to the right move in onedirection while the links which.connect the clips with the lower bar 15and extend to the left move in an opposite direction. Thus these stripsand links equalize the movement of the parts so that the slats willremain even in all positions on the shade.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages andnovel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction andin the combination and arrangement of the several parts provided thatsuch changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the claimed as new is:

1. A shade of the class described comprising a top bar, a plurality ofslats, clips connected with the slats, toggle levers hingedly connectedwith the ends of said clips and pivotally connected together, leversconnecting the top of the invention, what is toggle levers with the topbar, a bottom bar, links connecting the bottom bar with the lower endsof the lowermost toggle levers and frictional means for holding theparts in adjusted position. when they are moved by upward or downwardmovement 01' the bottom bar.

2. A shade of the class described comprising a plurality of slats, crossbars on which the slats are seated, tongues i'or removably holding theslats to the cross bars, a plurality of toggle levers arranged in pairs,means for pivotally and hingedly connecting a pair 01' toggle levers toeach end of each cross bar, a top bar, clips carried thereby, linkspivotally connecting the clips of the top bar to the upper ends of thetoggle levers of the top slat, a bottom bar, clips thereon, pairs oflinks pivotally and hingedly connected to each end of eachlast-mentioned clip, friction means for retarding pivotal movement ofthe last-mentioned links, the upper ends 01' said links being connectedpivotally with the lower ends of the toggle levers of the lower slats.

3. A shade of the class described comprising a plurality of slats, crossbars on which the slats are seated, tonguesfor removably holding theslats to the cross bars, a plurality oi toggle levers arranged in pairs,means for pivotally and hingedly connecting a pair of toggle levers toeach end of each cross bar, a top bar, clips'carried thereby, linkspivotally connecting the clips of the top bar to the upper ends of thetoggle levers of the top slat, a bottom bar, clips thereon, pairs oflinks pivotally and hingedly connected to eachend of each last-mentionedclip, friction means for retarding pivotal movement of thelast-mentioned links, theupper end of said links being connectedpivotally with the lower ends of the toggle levers of the lower slat,brackets for connecting with the window frame and to which the ends ofthe top bar are pivoted for rocking movement of the bar, means forholding the top in adjusted-position.

4. A shade of the class described comprising a plurality of slats, crossbars connected with the slat, a plurality of toggle levers arranged inpairs, means for pivotally and hingedly connecting a pair of togglelevers to each end of each cross bar, a top bar, clips carriedthereby,links pivotally connecting the clips oi the top bar to the upper ends ofthe toggle levers of the top slat, a bottom bar, clips thereon, pairs oflinks pivotally and hingedly connected to each end of eachlast-mentioned ciip, friction means for retarding pivotal movement ofthe last-mentioned links, the upper end of each link being connectedpivotally with the lower ends oi. the toggle levers of the lower slat,and metal strips to which the links of the top bar are pivoted andhinged.

DAVID JACKSON SPRADLING.

